Method of cleaning surfaces.



f N 'P .ATBNTBD JUNE-2, 1903;. c. (L MASON. Y METHOD '0F CLEANING SURPAGBS.

APPLIOATION PILD SEPT. 8,. 1900.

N0 MODEL.

nPATENT Patented June 2, 1903.

OFFICE.

CHARLES e. MASON, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

METHOD oF CLEANING s uRFAcES.

tIsECIFIGATION forming part ofuLetters Patent No.4729,624, dated June. 2, 1903. VApplicativi: filed September 8, `19H0. Serial No.'29,452. (No'speoimens.)

To all whom t mag/concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. MASON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of London, England, (whose post-oiiice address is 222 to 225 Strand WTC., London, England,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Cleansing Surfaces, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to methods of cleaning surfaces, particularly walls, ceilings, floors, and pavements. The object of such invention is to eect such cleaning. in an economical and efficacious manner; and it consists of a method hereinafter fully described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following.

' description set forth in detailvone method of carrying out the invention, such Adisclosed means constituting but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I repre-4 sents a'verticalsectional view of an apparatus used in carrying out my process, 4showing parts connected therewith in elevation; and Fig. 4II represents a horizontal sectional view of said apparatus.

In carrying out my invention I first putupon the surface to be cleaned a liquid which has previously been impregnated with a cleansing substance. Such substance may be any one of the well-known alkalies, acids, salts, or other substances having such cleansing property. I then raise the temperature of this liquid while on such surface by means of lthe projection of aheated gas upon such liquid-'covered surface. By heated gas Imean any gaseous body which may or may not have a chemical action, irrespective of its heat, upon the substances to be removed.

- It has been found that it is often advantageous to impart to the gas-used such properties as will effect a chemical action irrespective of its heat. One method of accomplishing this is to mix with the steam a vaporized mineral oil or other substance having properties similarly aecting the substances to be removed.l The physical characteristics of a gas are such as to be most advantageous 1n applying the heat or eifecting a chemical ac- Vtion in addition to that oi' the cleansing mate# and have hence not been carried away by the,

water, are effectively loosened and are then subject to ready removal. The liquid which I have found to be most preferable is water, and the gas which I have found to be m'ost preferable is superheated steam, and I have also found that in some cases it is very advantageous t0 mix with the steam the vapor of a petroleum product.4

A device for carrying out my above-described process is illustrated 1n the drawings.

A casing A is provided with' a handle a, whereby it Vmay be carried about. ,In the front of this casing is an aperture a', through which projects a rotatable brush B, mounted upon a hollow spindle b, which is mounted upon a steam-pipe C, passing out of the rear of the casing and connected with any sultable source of `superheated steam by means I of a flexible connection c. A transverse spindle D is. mounted in the casing and has mounted upon it a water-wheel D'. This water-wheel is rotated by means of a stream Vof water issuing from a nozzle E, mounted 1n the casing and connected by means of a flexible connection e withv a .suitable water-supply.` The nozzle is so arranged that apart of the water will strike and rotate the wheel and a part will pass through the aperture'a and at one side of the brush, as will be und derstood from Fig. II. The said spindle D is further provided with a worm d, which en= gages a worm-wheel b', mounted upon the hollow spindle b, whereby it 'is seen the brush IOO aperture a.

is rotated simultaneously withv the rotation of the Water-wheel D. A pinion F is also secured upon the spindle D and engages a wheel G, provided with gear-teeth g and radiating paddles g. The wheel projects downwardly some distance below and opposite the aperture af, as shown in the drawings, and is arranged so that it will carryand throw liquid into which it may dip out through the It will therefore be seen that the brush and Wheel G may be simultaneously rotated by the wheel D.

Cleansing material H, preferably in solid form, is placed in the bottom of the casing, steam is, projected through thepipe C and water is projected upon the Water-Wheel D'. Enough watersoon accumulates in the bottom of the casing to cause the wheel G to become partly immersedtherein. This water, impregnated with the cleansing material,which it-absorbs, is projected upon the surface .to be cleaned by the wheel Gr. By now moving the casing over a short distance steam is projected upon this liquid-covered surface, which is heated thereby and simultaneously subjected to the action of the brush. The heat, frictional, and chemical actions combined effectually loosen extraneous material. This material ispartially carried away bythe condensed steam and the cleansing liquid which iowo the surface. The device is now moved over, so

- E to strike the surface just operated upon,v

as to cause the stream of water from nozzle thereby eifectually rinsing sucli surface and removing all the loosened extraneous matter not previously removed. In order to prevent the water-wheel from dipping into the impreg- Y nated liquid, the apparatus niay be tilted so surface.

or the equivalent of suchstated steps be em.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention- 1. ThatA improvement in the method of cleansing a surface, which consists in putting upon such surface a liquid impregnated with a cleansingsubstance, then raising the temperature of such impregnated liquid 'by projecting a heated gas upon such liquid-covered l2. The method oficleansing a surface, which consists in putting upon such surface a liquid impregnated with a cleansing substance, rais ing the temperature of such impregnated liquid by projecting a heated-gas .upon such liquid-covered surface, and subjecting such surface to africtional operation.

l 3. The method of cleansinga surface, which l consists in putting upon such surface a liquid impregnated with a cleansing substance, raising the i temperature of such impregnated liquid by projecting a heated gas upon such.

liquid and simultaneously subjecting such surface to a frictional operation.'

Signed CHARLES C. MASON. Attest:

D. T. DAvrEs, A. E. MERKEL.

by me this 5th day of' September," 

